Fenland Tour 2001 Page 34

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Tour 2001

Fenland Tour Summer 2001

34 - Weedon to Lechlade - Grand Union Canal, Southern Oxford Canal and River Thames.

Tuesday 31st July 2001

Linda got up and shoved off at 06.50. The Commode D' Or's back was still bad from sitting on bench thingy in the Heart Of England garden (and NO this did NOT cloud my judgment of this establishment!).....so he lay in until we approached Buckby. As many of you are aware, Buckby always seems to take an age, mainly I think, as you can not see what is happening at the next lock and there are a few curves to confuse the novice boater.
There was a single CAnaltime nb just entering (07.50), so Neil just wandered off with the locky to set the locks and left the two boats to it. At the next lock up Earnest came in solo, as the American's aboard the Canaltime boat were just going up to use the winding point (why did they not do a quick turn in Wilton entrance?) Anyway they were very compliant and this was probably their first lock.
We absolutely shot up Buckby, sharing the top lock with nb Hulben from Braunston. Got to top at 08.45. The water point was free so we went out of the right hand side of the lock and went on it. A small private nb was approaching, so we left the gates open for them. Just as Neil was mooring up, just on centre rope and centre fender eye, the approaching nb made a bee line for our bow and tried to fit a 40ft nb in a 30ft spot. Neil had to quickly release the centre rope to avoid any more bow to bow contact (fortunately their bow sun and moon came off worse!) They said they were unaware that we were stopping for water (we were already moored!) A long 45 minute glaring match ensued as we both had a slow fill up from the double tap.
About two thirds of the way through Braunston Tunnel a rather large bright lamp appeared - obviously a working / pseudo working boat with a traditional “Blind the bastard coming the other way” lamp. Most of us modern nb boaters with pathetic little car spot lamps normally aim them at the roof to avoid blinding people coming the other way. Neil got Linda to aim our spot lamp at their face. The other boat slows down (it was doing a fair lick, but very controlled and close to other side of the tunnel) The boat turns out to be our friends from Cassio Wharf in the very nicely turned out Star Class motor - Asterope ......whooooops!
There was yet more fun in Braunston Tunnel......we were nearly out when a boat appeared at entrance. It is normal practice to hold back if another boat is just coming out, as a collision is normally inevitable. The other boat (Ashby hire boat) started coming at us, lined up for the centre of the tunnel......Neil had enough of collisions and can just imagine the outcome to our gunnels, so steered into them, popping them put of the way! Neil was not particularly worried what damage they sustained, but our prone bow gunnel spug for the cratch cover popper caught it..........ended up spending £45 in Midland Chandlers, just for a 45p spug!
It was a nice fast assent of Braunston Flight - 10.50 - 11.25 (everyone escaping Braunston?!) We caught up with NB “Hulben” in the bottom lock. We stopped at Midland Chandlers for spug. Young sales bloke recognised me as the man that spent a small fortune with them “finishing off” Earnest.
13.40 got to Napton Junction - slow - loadsa Braunston boaters out!
14.15 arrived at Napton Bottom Lock VM.
14.30 Neil fell in adjusting mooring ropes
14.40 Linda comes back from dog drag and has fits of laughter.
Neil got straight into shower and cleans up / washes clothes in one go. Around 18.30 the dulcet tones of tug “Thorn” are heard and Neil comes out to greet Guy, Connie and Connie's brother and sister-in-law. As “Thorn” reverses back Neil moves Earnest up (much to Linda's disappointment he did not fall in this time). Neil had already measured the potential gap, with the barge pole and knew the 40ft “Thorn” would just squeeze in.
Linda had already booked up the Folly Inn for 19.00, so as usual we had the pathetic “Neil is late as he has to lock the boat up” routine. Guy and Connie were going to do some car shuffling and would see us in the pub later. Folly grub much better than last time and nearly up to old standard. Also nice Warwickshire Brewery “Folly” ale. Neil missed the arrival of Mike and Krystena Wooding + son Ashley and went out as our party left. Fortunately recognised Connie's Mazda, as it arrived and went back and we all met up for a few jars.

Wednesday 1st August 2001

Linda set of at 07.15. By the time she is at Napton Bottom Lock the Commode D' Or is up and ready. Nice peaceful passage up the Napton Flight, no one about, one boat met coming down just below Marston Doles Top Lock. Out of top lock at 09.00. Bit of an overcast morning, but still fairly warm. Also quiet over the summit. We go slowly and do not catch up any other boats. Claydon Flight a different kettle of fish - the normal confusion – takes from 12.30 to 13.50. Arrive at Cropredy (well a fair way above the disused lift bridge 'ole) We are afloat so stay here, even though fair amount of space above the lock. Neil ends up having the last shower and we are “late” for booked table in the Red Lion

Thursday 2^nd August 2001

Linda started off at 07.35, from our out of town Cropredy moorings. Increasingly worse weather ending up with persistent light rain. Passed John Stead in NB “Lord of the Dance”, just before Aynho....Neil was keeping dry. We moored up for night in nice woody piled moorings, below Bridge 212 (17.55). Spag Bol for dinner.

Friday 3rd August 2001

Left the mooring below Bridge 212 on the S, Oxford at 09.30. Drizzly but warm morning. Stopped at Kingsground Enslow Wharf for diesel and water top up. (10.20 to 11.05) - 31p/L. Daft bloke put diesel all over cants / stern so Earnest got the start of a Fairy Liquid spruce up (TNC always try to put on smart appearance on the Thames!) Linda declined the offer of a trip UP the Cherwell above Bakers Lock. At the other end of the Cherwell section we saw an apparent hovercraft / Everglades fan boat reversing out of the weir stream........this ended up to be an EA fishery electro stun boat........the ideal way to go fishing. The apparent fan was a hinged electrode device that lowered into the water to stun the fish for “examination”
There was a BW bod on a mountain bike acting as lock keeper at Shipton Weir Lock. He was really there to clear out something stuck on the sill stopping the top gate from shutting properly. He also told tales of a large submerged tarpaulin and a wheel barrow in the cut below the railway bridge. When we arrived at the said semi submerged wheel barrow (don't forget this is the terribly deep S. Oxford!) We decided to remove it. No sign of the tarpaulin though.
The BW bod then cycled up and said he would tow it down to Thrupp Yard, behind his bike! This worked well for a while.......until the wheel fell off the wheelbarrow and the ensemble ended up all over the towpath. We then retrieved said mangled remains (of wheelbarrow) and boated it down to Thrupp. The bonus was that BW bod opened up lift bridge and held up boat approaching from the other way. We tossed wheel barrow remains off as we passed.
No stone throwing trouble through Kidlington, in fact not many kids about. At Dukes Cut (14.10) we took the quick way onto the Thames as we intended to moor up below Osney Bridge as the VM in Oxford, on the canal are such crap. Many narrowboats seen above Osney and only one cruiser and that came to grief trying to go round in circles in the VERY shallow weir stream beside Godstow Lock. None of Thames lockys seemed interested in licences......suppose they now assume all tin slugs have Gold Licence's!
No 60ft or even 45ft moorings on 24 hr EA moorings above Osney Lock. As no room to wind 60ft NB above we had to go through Osney Lock and make up our minds what to do below. Friendly Assistant EA Locky overheard conversation and told us to moor on the towpath side below the lock - the first bit was deep. After a quick wind in the entrance to the weir stream boat yard moorings we went back up and moored up at 15.45, using a multitude of pins, ropes and springs. We missed the Chuckney 2 / Polash Indian so ended up in the EAMAYL (Eat As Much As You Like) Buffet Chinese. On the Botley Road, the main route into town from Osney Bridge. Meal OKish £60 for 5. Probably would have been better later on when all the crowds arrived and turnover of waiting food in the heated cabinet was quicker.

Saturday 4th August 2001

Overcast sort of morning with a good few threatening black clouds. Linda and Peter left fairly early (09.00ish) to catch the Oxford Express back to Hillingdon to pick up car to transport animals, Wendy and Colin away and bring back Peter and his mate Damien for a “Father and son week”. Neil spent the morning clearing up. Hoovering up dog hairs and cleaning basin / sink / shower / floor to his standard. Linda came back at around 12.15 and after a brief lunch stop departed, leaving Neil, Peter and Damien present.
We shoved off at 13.25 from the towpath moorings below Osney Lock (actually seemed quieter than the official EA 24 hour moorings above). Out of Kings Lock at 14.50......then the rains started.......and do I mean started! A good few people had stopped because of the rain, including a nb that we thought was waiting for Pinkhill Lock. Had to crank Northmoor Lock ourselves as it was the lockies tea time......passage ended up quicker!
Eventually gave up for the night at Newbridge (field VM before bridge and pub). That evening we went out to the “Rose Revived Inn”. OKish in a big brewery (now Green King) kinda way. One of those get a table and order your own food affairs. Would not keep a tab open or hold credit card, so had to order every course and drinks separately!

Sunday 5th August 2001

Left Newbridge at 08.45. Neil was stirred into action having heard the sound of banging mooring pins. Amazingly we managed to get off before the rather slow unmooring couple on the nb upstream. Lovely bright blustery morning. Fluffy clouds zooming along. A bit of a change from yesterday. Peter and Damien emerged in time for Shifford Lock. Still could not contact Ian Clarke. Earnest's new rudder made a much better effort of getting round the bends on the incised wiggly bit before Radcot Lock. Fairly heavy work, but worth the effort as we managed to miss the 70ft slug coming downstream, that we met on an elbow bend!!!
Big local boat club do on at Radcot Bridge, so just as well we did not try to moor here last night. Many cruisers and nb's seen moored up in secluded out of it moorings, we had not remembered how easy this was to do above Oxford. Picked up terribly slow slug (NB) at Buscot Lock and had to virtually moor up to give us a safe working distance between us and them during the traverse of the VERY wiggly bit above. This is all over farmland with lowish banks, so you can see the boats coming at you from upstream.
We lost the slow NB at St Johns Lock, as they got water. Ambled up to the start of the deep moorings in the south bank, just before Ha'penny Bridge in Lechlade and espied Straight Across just before the first corner. Managed to get into bank just below Ian's boat.(14.00) It transpired that Ian had not got any of our messages and that he was just about to leave! With an offer of an nb assault on the Thames above Inglesham tomorrow, Ian changed his plans.
We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out, getting into Ian C's laid back Thames style cruising. Peter and Damien commandeered River Tramp, Ian's little tender and went of exploring. Also with Ian was his Thames Vintage Boat Club mate Mike in his Seamaster!! (just sold his wooden boat!) Earnest crew had excellent takeaway Indian from the “Shugonda” in Lechlade. That evening spent time seeing digi camera slide show of TVBC rally and of Earnest's adventures.

Braunston Flight. Grand Union Canal.